Resumption of violence in Afghanistan 'unacceptable,' must be reduced: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday demanded an immediate reduction in violence in Afghanistan for peace process to go forward after what he said was an "unacceptable" spike in Taliban attacks.

" upsurge in violence in parts of Afghanistan over last couple days is unacceptable," he said at a news conference.

"Violence must be reduced immediately for peace process to move forward." US and Taliban negotiators signed an agreement on Saturday laying out a path toward peace that could le to withdrawal of US and foreign forces within 14 months.

signing in Doha was preceded by a week-long reduction in violence across country.

But on Wednesday, Afghan interior ministry said Taliban h carried out 30 attacks over a 24-hour period that resulted in deaths of four civilians and 11 Afghan soldiers.

General Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, downplayed severity of attacks in congressional testimony Wednesday.

"What is important, though, for agreement: we're on day four, this was small, low-level attacks, out on checkpoints, etcetera," he told Senate Armed Services Committee.